The Student Borrower Protection Center is seeking a full-time Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator, joining a team of attorneys, policy experts, and consumer advocates offering litigation strategy, policy development, and research focused on halting industry abuses, expanding borrower protections, and reforming the student loan system.
Founded in November 2018 by a team of former senior-level financial regulators and enforcement officials, SBPC is an advocacy and policy nonprofit focused solely on student debt. Together, our team works to: 1) expose harmful and illegal practices in the student loan industry, 2) drive impact litigation, 3) advise policymakers regarding issues that affect student loan borrowers in Washington and in state capitals, and 4) promote research/publications advancing progressive policy change.
The Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator will support the organization’s advocacy function, state legislative work, and Civil Rights Project, and contribute to all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the organization. This position reports to the Director of Advocacy.
This is a full-time position and duties include:
- Developing and executing outreach and organizing plans to support and advance SBPC’s state advocacy and Civil Rights Project work.
- Building and managing SBPC’s relationships with national, state, and local stakeholders including advocates, policymakers, and coalition partners.
- Representing SBPC at meetings, convenings, legislative hearings, and other events to build awareness of and support for SBPC’s advocacy efforts and Civil Rights Project. (Note that post-COVID, this will involve traveling throughout the country for in-person meetings and events.)
- Organizing, staffing, and tracking advocacy and Civil Rights Project meetings, including scheduling, drafting agendas, and synthesizing action items for follow up.
- Drafting sample letters, correspondence, and social media for coalition partners to use in their own communications efforts.
- Developing and updating content for the SBPC website related to advocacy, states, and civil rights work.
- Advancing SBPC’s commitment to the pursuit of racial and economic justice across all organizational initiatives, including by applying this lens to all organizing efforts and through day-to-day engagement.
- Assisting in the planning and execution of conferences and roundtables focused on student debt, consumer protection, and civil rights, as well as other organization-sponsored events in state capitals and in Washington, D.C.
- Other duties as assigned.
To succeed in this role, a candidate must be a self-starter, eager to work in a fast-paced environment, and be comfortable with shifting deadlines and responsibilities. Candidates should demonstrate experience (whether through internships, volunteer experiences, or paid work) with the following skills, and abilities; however, we are looking for a well-rounded candidate who is eager to grow in the role and limited experience in one or two of these areas should not preclude a candidate from applying.
- 1-2 years of relevant experience in national or state organizing, advocacy, or government relations.
- Knowledge of or demonstrated interest in consumer protection, student debt, and public policy.
- Outstanding interpersonal and organizing skills. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and externally to build coalitions and partnerships while balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into a cohesive written or oral presentation and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.
- Flexibility in working style, marked by an ability to work closely with a wide range of personality and organization types and teams.
- Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage extensive documentation and written information.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to ensure full-circle communication with program staff and thorough dissemination of important tasks, projects, and meetings.
- Ability to resolve conflicts professionally and maintain patience, grace, and humor under pressure.
- Ability to adhere to numerous deadlines, conflicting priorities, and handle multiple tasks efficiently. Ability to receive, balance, and handle direction and input from multiple colleagues.
The salary for this position is $55,000-$65,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
The Student Borrower Protection Center is headquartered in Washington, DC. Preference will be given to candidates who are based in or who are able to relocate to Washington, DC., but SBPC will consider applicants from any location in the continental United States and may be able to accommodate a remote work arrangement on a case-by-case basis.
Applications from persons of color, LGBTQI persons, women, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged.
To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter to careers@protectborrowers.org
The Student Borrower Protection Center is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.